Pre-light Experience

The Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder The Ascension is box pressed with a dark brown wrapper that has some lightly raised veins and a fine tooth. The seams are smooth and the tapered head is well finished. The cigar has the traditional double bands in purplish-blue and gold for the line along with a cedar sleeve that runs from below the second band down to the foot. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of dark chocolate and manure while the foot brings slightly sweet cedar. The pre-light draw brings a mellow, sweet cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with wood, dark earth and baking spice. At a quarter inch in, the baking spice morphs into black pepper and becomes quite bold. At a half inch in, the wood gains a light toast note. The retrohale is toasted wood, dark earth, light creaminess and a zinging black pepper to finish. At an inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit. At an inch and a quarter, a light cocoa powder joins in. The third wraps up with lightly toasted wood slightly ahead of dark earth, black pepper a little further behind and some light cocoa powder. The strength was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the dark earth takes a slight lead over the toasted wood. At a half inch in, the dark earth and toasted wood are now even. The retrohale is now toasted wood, dark earth and very mild black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the toast level increases and the earth becomes a bit dry, creating a slightly dry overall profile. The black pepper is now very mild and the cocoa powder remains in the background. The strength remains at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast level becomes pretty heavy, and a light bitterness becomes present. At a half inch in, the cocoa powder and black pepper depart. The retrohale is now just toasted wood and dark earth. The cigar wraps up with heavily toasted wood and dry earth with a slight bitterness in the background. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn line was straight the entire way and the ash held on in near two inch increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with wood, dark earth and baking spice. The baking spice quickly morphed into black pepper and became quite bold. A toast note and cocoa powder joined a bit later. The second third saw the toast level increase and the earth become a bit dry. The final third saw the pepper and cocoa depart and a light bitterness join in. Construction was absolutely perfect. The Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder The Ascension started well in the first third with rich and detailed flavors. This fell off in the second third as the flavors weren’t as dynamic and maintained this level the rest of the way. Construction was as expected from most cigars from the brand. The cigar just lost steam as it went along, which was a bummer as the profile from the first third had a nice, full body. I don’t see this rendition as a step up and would likely go back to the original vitolas in the line before I came back to this one.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$1.93

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder The Ascension